Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,97
have to bet on it, but..." He trailed off and looked over to Westley. "Are you even okay with the idea? I know how possessive peacocks are."
"You make it seem like I can shift into one." Westley rolled his eyes.
"Technically you can, but let's be real. You got that trait from that."
"If it's you two, I'm down for it, but that's it. No one else gets close."
"Fun," Keru declared and patted Gabriel's back. "See what communication can do, Gabe?"
"Fudge you!"
"You were swearing up a storm outside, and now you're acting like a holy saint of no swearing," Keru teased. "Just admit you're happy inside!"
"I'm not!"
"Lies!" I giggled and clapped my hands. "It's decided! I'll get a perfect score on my exam and you'll have no choice but to date me!"
"How did this become another bet?" Westley sighed but shrugged. "Guess we'll go along with it."
"Westley." I moved over to face him, hooking my arms around his neck and bringing him close. "You're really hot when you get all dominant like that. Do it again."
He blushed, his entire face burning red while Keru snickered. "Overprotective Westley came out to play."
"And now he's gone," Gabriel finished.
"H-Hush," he stuttered, but I didn't care about what was being said, pulling him down for a kiss.
"There they go making out." Keru sounded pleased. "See what you did? What do you have to-OW!" Don't sucker punch me!"
"Go sit quietly and leave me alone."
"I was consoling you seconds ago! Be nice!"
"No!"
"Ugh. You're an asshole!"
Westley broke the kiss and looked into my eyes.
"You sure about this?" he whispered.
"I like challenges," I replied against his lips.
"You know if we aim for perfect scores, we'll take those guys’ positions as horsemen."
"I'm aware."
"Not sure if we want to get into that," he whispered.
"If I'm with you guys, it could be fun?"
His smirk blossomed glints of hope at the idea.
"We each have a flaming trait. Could be fun."
"If we're in it together, I think it will be."
"Then…" He kissed me gently. "Let's try for the sake of being together."
It sounds like a good plan.
Unexpected Blaze Of Stricken Destiny
~SIX WEEKS LATER~
* * *
"I know some of you have been chosen to take your dual partner exams today and are nervous. Take a deep breath and focus on what you want to achieve. You've all been taught the right techniques and are merely applying them to the physical realm. Remember the importance of teamwork. Your written exams from yesterday have already been inputted. Final marks will appear after you've completed your duo exam. Any questions?" Professor Daily looked around the room.
When no one answered, he nodded his head.
"You're dismissed. Try to wait here for a few minutes since there is a transition happening outside."
We all decided to comply, the room buzzing with nerves and excitement. I bit my lip nervously, worried about the coming duo exam. I must have jinxed myself weeks ago because I was one of the first to be chosen and was partnered with Gabriel.
He didn't seem worried at all, even when I snuck a glimpse his way as others bickered about failing the written exam.
I was pretty confident that we'd aced the written part. This test was even easier than the last, but as much as we'd promised ourselves to practice the element portions after midterms happened, that didn't occur.
Not even once.
The day after our midterms, we were slammed with double if not triple the workload. Huge, thick books that had to be from the years of the dinosaurs were now our textbooks, some of them completely in magic incantations which we had to translate to grasp any bit of information from them.
It was a good thing that the four of us were extremely close and were willing to distribute the work, or I was pretty sure I'd be studying every chance I got with balancing four major subjects.
At least I kept to my word to workout, keeping up with morning runs and sometimes evening ones to try and take a mental break from the information overload of classes during the day and tons of reading at night.
Gabriel noticed my gaze and arched an eyebrow at me.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Check me out another day."
"I wasn't checking you out," I huffed.
"Aren't they cute when they fight?" Keru suggested to Westley, who yawned.
"Sure."
"You don't even care, do you?" Keru grinned.
"Not when I'm this tired."
"Didn't you sleep during class?" Gabriel noted.
"Not..." He paused, and I almost thought he'd fallen asleep again when he closed his eyes momentarily. Then they shot open, flickering straight into silver.